CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS 2G7 



though undoubtedly exceptions occur since pupae of the first 

 brood may not transform the same season. 



References 



Riley, Rept. U. S. Ent. for 1884, pp. 294-295. 



Forbes, 23rd Rept. State Ent. 111., pp. 21-23. 1905. 



Hawaii Sugar Planters' Exp. Sta. Div. Ent. Bull. 7, pp. 19-21. 1909. 



Dept. Agr. Canada Ent. Bull. 10, pp. 16-17. 1915. 



The Red-Backed Cutworm 



Paragrotis ochrogaster Guenee 



This destructive cutworm ranges from Nova Scotia to British 

 Cohimbia southward to Colorado and INIissouri. It is more 

 abundant in the northern part of its range, being the most 

 injurious species throughout Canada. The larva is almost 

 omnivorous in its tastes, attacking any succulent plant, especially 

 cabbage, cauliflower, beet, radish and many annuals of the 

 flower-garden. It is a serious pest in the West to grain crops, 

 particularly oats, wheat and barley. This species may be dis- 

 tinguished from other common cutworms by the reddish color 

 of the upper surface of the body. 



In eastern Ontario, the red-backed cutworm has been found 

 to hibernate in both the egg and larval stages. The over- 

 wintered eggs hatch the latter part of April and the caterpillars 

 become mature in about seven weeks. In its feeding habits it 

 resembles the greasy cutworm. The mature caterpillar is 1^ 

 inches in length, reddish above with a pale median stripe; 

 the reddish area being bordered on each side with a darker 

 band. The under surface is grayish to brownish. The head 

 and cervical shield are yellowish brown, and there are two 

 black spots on the vertex. 



In Canada the caterpillars become mature during the latter 

 part of June and pupate in earthen cells from one to two inches 

 below the surface of the ground. The pupa is reddish brown 



